US9310834B2

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US9310834B2
Application number: US13/174,406
Authority: US
Inventors: Mo Selim
Original assignee: Z124 Co
Current assignee: Multifold International Inc Pte Ltd
Priority date: 2011-06-30
Filing date: 2011-06-30
Publication date: 2016-04-12
Also published as: US20130002568A1; CN103037038B; CN103037038A

Abstract

Systems for, and methods of, dual screen smartphones are described herein. The dual screens are hingedly coupled and can be rotated into an open position forming one contiguous screen. A processor is configured to dismiss any action bar or status bar in response to a prompt thereby maximizing media across the entirety of any of the dual screens or contiguous screen formed by their intersection. An overlay command presented by the processor allows a user to minimize, tile, zoom, pan or dismiss the media when it is maximized.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of portable multiple screen devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to systems for and methods of enabling content to be presented and controlled across the entirety of one or more screens.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many portable gaming devices have one or more touch sensitive screens for enhanced presentation and manipulation of content and media displayed thereon.FIG. 1 shows a prior artportable smartphone100. Thesmartphone100 comprises abody105 and ascreen110. Thescreen110 has a perimeter that fits well within thebody105. Generally, thescreen110 is smaller than thebody105 in order to accommodate anaction bar120. In prior art smartphone devices,action bar120 is a tactile interface that is physically distinct from thescreen110. Theaction bar120 comprises the most basic top level commands, such as areturn key121, aforward key122, asearch key123, and ahome key124. Furthermore, because theaction bar120 is a physical tactile interface, it cannot be dismissed, nor can it be user configured for functionality. As a result, the entirety of thesmartphone100 cannot be used as a display since some portion thereof will always be taken up by theaction bar120.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the presently-claimed invention are directed to systems for and methods of enabling maximizing media across an entirety of a screen. The screen can be a first screen on a portable device, a second screen, or one contiguous screen formed by the first and second screens. In contrast to prior art solutions, the two screens have the look and feel of one screen, enabling many embodiments not possible in the prior art. Portions of the first, second, or contiguous screen can be automatically configured or user configured to maximize displayed media across the entirety of screen by dismissing an action bar. For example, a first screen can have a maximized web site displayed thereon. The second screen can then display usual well known smartphone applications, such as a telephone, email, messaging, and various applications. Alternatively, the second screen can be powered down to save power. Alternatively, the smartphone is placed in an open position and the media is displayed across the entirety of the contiguous display formed by the joining of the first and second displays.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a prior art smartphone having a dedicated action bar.

FIG. 2A shows an embodiment of a smartphone having a contiguous screen formed of two separate screens.

FIG. 2B shows an embodiment of a smartphone having a contiguous screen formed of two separate screens.

FIG. 3A shows a dual screen smartphone toggling between a full screen mode and displaying action and status bars.

FIG. 3B shows a dual screen smartphone toggling between a full screen mode and displaying action and status bars as well as additional applications.

FIG. 3C shows a dual screen smartphone toggling between a full screen mode and displaying action and status bars in a landscape orientation.

FIG. 3D shows a dual screen smartphone toggling between a full screen mode and displaying action and status bars in a landscape orientation wherein the smartphone is in an open position.

FIG. 4A shows a dual screen smartphone toggling between a full screen mode, multiple application mode, and non full screen mode.

FIG. 4B shows a dual screen smartphone toggling between a full screen mode, multiple application mode, and non full screen mode.

FIG. 4C shows a dual screen smartphone toggling between multiple application mode, a full screen mode, and back to full screen mode.

FIG. 5A shows overlay commands in full screen mode.

FIG. 5B shows overlay commands in minimized mode.

FIG. 5C shows overlay commands in tiled mode.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The systems and methods described herein enable two touch screens to selectively display a media in canvas mode across the entirety of a screen. The two touch screens preferably are hingedly coupled and in an open position appear to a user to have the same look and feel as one contiguous, unbroken screen. The screens can operate in unison or independently to show one medium or multiple media. A processor is configured to dismiss any action bar or status bar in response to a prompt thereby maximizing media across the entirety of any of the dual screens or contiguous screen formed by their intersection. An overlay command presented by the processor allows a user to minimize, tile, zoom, pan or dismiss the media when the media is maximized. The following figures illustrate features of specific embodiments of the presently-claimed invention. Throughout the figures, below, identical labels refer to identical or similar elements. The following embodiments are intended to illustrate the features of the presently-claimed invention. The invention is not limited to only the disclosed embodiments. It is understood that elements are interchangeable among the embodiments.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show asmartphone200 displaying canvas based media in a full screen mode and a non full screen mode respectively.FIG. 2A shows thesmartphone200 having afirst screen210 and asecond screen220. Thefirst screen210 andsecond screen220 are rotatably coupled by ahinge225 thereby enabling rotation about the axis A. As such, thesmartphone200 is shown in an open configuration. In the open configuration, thefirst screen210 andsecond screen220 come together along theline215 and form one contiguous screen. Advantageously, canvas based media can be displayed across the entirety of the contiguous screen. In the embodiment shown, a website is displayed. A processing means (not shown) launches an application, such as the web browser displaying the web site in the example ofFIG. 2A.

Referring now toFIG. 2B, anaction bar218 and astatus bar208 are displayed across the contiguous screen. Theaction bar218 comprisesfunctional buttons218A-218H for performing common tasks. In this example, theaction bar218 comprises a back button219C, anapplication list call218A, ahome key218B, asearch button218D, a forward button (not illustrated), aphone button218E, ahelp key218H, and a userconfigurable space218F-218G. Such function buttons are generally chosen because of their frequent use. Thestatus bar208 comprises indicators of the operation of thesmartphone200 and the status of any communications applications being run by thesmartphone200. In this example a signal strength indicator and a clock are shown. Additionally, a battery level indicator and a message or email indicator can be included as well. Although both thestatus bar208 and theaction bar218 are useful, they need not be displayed continuously as they consume area on thesmartphone200. As discussed above, prior art solutions have such functions as permanent physical buttons thereby necessarily limiting the size of the screen. Some prior art devices also have permanent indicators to show incoming messages, low battery, or the like, also requiring space.

Referring back toFIG. 2A, thestatus bar208 and action bar218 ofFIG. 2B are dismissed, thereby enabling the canvas based media, in this example a web site, to be displayed across the entirety of the contiguous screen. In some embodiments, the processing means (not shown) detects when thesmartphone200 is placed in the open configuration shown, and automatically dismisses thestatus bar208 and action bar218 ofFIG. 2B, thereby entering “full screen mode.” Alternatively, a user can prompt thesmartphone200 to enter full screen mode by a physical prompt. By way of example, thebutton218H ofFIG. 2B can be a prompt for entering full screen mode. Still alternatively, some applications can automatically prompt the processing means to enter full screen mode. For example, a user can configure the processing means to enter full screen mode upon opening a web browser application. Until re-configured to do otherwise, the processing means will automatically dismiss thestatus bar208 and action bar218 ofFIG. 2B when the web browser application is called. Still alternatively, the processing means will cause an application to enter full screen mode upon rotation of thesmartphone200 from a portrait orientation to a landscape orientation, or vice versa. Preferably, the processing means comprises memory for storing user settings for how and when particular applications are prompted into full screen mode. When in full screen mode, anoverlay control230 is presented. Theoverlay control230 prompts the processing means to dismiss full screen mode and re-introduce thestatus bar208 and action bar218 ofFIG. 2B. In some embodiments, thestatus bar208 andaction bar218 are automatically re-introduced upon a change in status of thesmartphone200. For example, should the user receive a new message, the processing meansre-introduces status bar208 andaction bar218 momentarily to alert the user of the new message. The user can then toggle between the application being used and a messaging application. Still alternatively, only thestatus bar208 can be introduced and dismissed only upon a prompt by the user. The user can configure the processing means to ignore any incoming messages, phone calls, or changes in status while using certain applications. The user can also configure the processing means to permanently exit full screen mode upon certain prompts. For example, the user can configure the processing means to exit both full screen mode and the web browser application when receiving a phone call. The processing means can be any off the shelf commercially available or application specific processor. Preferably, a processor optimized for mobile computing is used.

In applications where a user wishes to use only one screen, the processing means can place one of the

screens

210 or220 ofFIG. 2A in full screen mode.FIG. 3A shows adual screen smartphone300 similar to thesmartphone200 ofFIGS. 2A and 2B in a closed configuration. Afirst screen310 is visible. A second screen (not shown) faces the opposite direction of thefirst screen310. Thefirst screen310 and second screen are rotatably coupled by ahinge325. In the example ofFIG. 3A, a reader application has been launched by the processing means (not shown) through a prompt by a user. Upon launching, the reader application is displayed along with astatus bar308, asecondary status bar309, and anaction bar318. Thesecondary status bar309 can be application specific to the reader application. For example, the secondary status bar can be a dictionary, a thesaurus, or an area to take notes via stylus or keyboard entry by a user regarding the material displayed on the reader. Upon a prompt, such as by touching thefunction button318D on theaction bar318, thestatus bar308,secondary status bar309, andaction bar318 are dismissed by the processing means and thesmartphone300 enters portrait single full screen mode. The media, in this example a page of an e-book, is displayed across the entirety of thescreen310. Anoverlay control330 is presented for exiting full screen mode or performing other functions as will be discussed below.

Referring now toFIG. 3B, when thesmartphone300 is placed in an open configuration, thefirst screen310 andsecond screen320 are adjacent to each other. A sensor in thehinge325 alerts the processing means (not shown) that the smartphone is now in an open configuration. The processing means can be configured to automatically display a particular application, in this example atelephone keypad315. Upon being placed in the open configuration, thestatus bar308,secondary status bar309 andaction bar318 are re-introduced by the processing means. The user can then prompt the processing means by thebutton318D to re-enter full screen mode. Because the processing means is notified that thesmartphone300 is in an open configuration, the processing means dismisses thestatus bar308,secondary status bar309 andaction bar318 and spreads the reader application across the entirety of both thefirst screen310 and thesecond screen320, thereby going into portrait dual full screen mode. Because thefirst screen310 and thesecond screen320 form a contiguous single screen, the contiguous single screen has the same look and feel as one screen to the user. Theoverlay control330 is still presented for exiting full screen mode. Alternatively, upon placing thesmartphone300 in the open configuration of3B from the closed configuration of3A, the reader application automatically prompts the processing means to go into portrait dual full screen mode. Still alternatively, the user can program or configure the processing means to automatically enter portrait dual full screen mode upon being set in the open configuration only for the reader application or any other applications the user wishes to use in portrait dual full screen mode.

FIG. 3C shows thesmartphone300 in a closed configuration in a landscape orientation. Preferably, the processing means comprises an orientation sensing module (not shown) for determining the orientation of thesmartphone300. For example, thesmartphone300 toggles between portrait orientation and landscape orientation when thesmartphone300 tips beyond 45 degrees with respect to the horizon. The orientation sensing module can be any known, convenient or applications specific tilt sensor including but not limited to an accelerometer, a tilt switch, or the like. Similarly toFIG. 3A, thestatus bar308,secondary status bar309 andaction bar318 are first presented or displayed by the processing means. Upon prompt or automatically as discussed above, the processing means dismisses thestatus bar308,secondary status bar309 andaction bar318 and enters landscape single full screen mode. Again, anoverlay control330 is presented while in landscape single full screen mode for exiting full screen mode.

FIG. 3D shows thesmartphone300 in an open configuration in landscape orientation. The sensor in thehinge325 again alerts the processing means that thesmartphone300 is now in an open configuration. The orientation sensing module alerts the processing means that thesmartphone300 is in landscape orientation. As in the embodiment ofFIG. 3B, thefirst screen310 andsecond screen320 form a contiguous single screen that has the same look and feel as one screen to the user. In the example ofFIG. 3D, processing means automatically dismisses thestatus bar308,secondary status bar309 andaction bar318 and spreads the reader application across the entirety of both thefirst screen310 and thesecond screen320, thereby going into landscape dual full screen mode. Theoverlay control330 is again presented for exiting full screen mode.

FIGS. 4A-4C shows several examples the smartphone described above toggling in and out of full screen mode. In the embodiments inFIGS. 4A-4C, the smartphone is shown in an open configuration toggling in and out of portrait dual full screen mode. Also, only the contiguous screens formed of thefirst screen401 andsecond screen402 are shown for simplicity. In the example400, a browser application is displayed in regular mode on thefirst screen401, and a second application is displayed on thesecond screen402. In the regular mode, thestatus bar408,secondary status bar409 andaction bar418 are presented or displayed. Upon a prompt, such as by touchingbutton418D, the browser application is maximized into portrait dual full screen mode and thestatus bar408,secondary status bar409 andaction bar418 are dismissed. Upon exiting portrait dual full screen mode, such as by touching the overlay control430, the web browser application is minimized into a regular mode on thesecond screen402, while another aspect of the web browsing application is displayed on thefirst screen401. Alternatively, the web browser application reverts to regular display mode on thefirst screen401 and the second application is again displayed on thesecond screen402. In the example450, a browser application is being displayed on thesecond screen402 with related features of the browser application displayed on thefirst screen401. Upon a prompt, the processing means dismisses thestatus bar408,secondary status bar409 andaction bar418 and enters portrait dual full screen mode. Upon exiting full screen mode, thefirst screen401 again displays the related features of the browser application and thesecond screen402 displays the browser application.

FIGS. 5A-5C show an examples of how overlay controls510 are presented and interfaced by a user on asmartphone500 as described in the previous drawings and text. As shown inFIG. 5A, the overlay controls510 automatically appear across thedual screen520 when thesmartphone500 has been placed in full screen mode. In some embodiments, the overlay controls510 are semi-opaque icons representing actions that can be taken to exit full screen mode or to minimize the application. In the example ofFIG. 5A, a web page is displayed on thescreen520. The web page is a canvas application. Stated differently, the user can zoom in, zoom out, and pan around the web page as desired. In some embodiments, zooming out is performed by contacting thescreen520 with the forefinger and thumb and bring the forefinger and thumb together in a pinching motion. The opposite can be done for zooming out. For panning, the user plants a finger on thescreen520 and simply drags across the screen to simulate moving physical media. Alternatively, separate semi-opaque icons can be presented to the user for the zoom in, zoom out and pan functions. Similarly, other functions can be included or programmed by the user. In the example ofFIG. 5A, the overlay controls510 comprise a minimizebutton505 and anexit button507. The minimizebutton505, when engaged by a user by tapping thereon, completely minimizes the application. The minimizebutton505 is represented by a an arrow pointing in a downward direction with respect to the orientation of thesmartphone500. As discussed above, thesmartphone500 preferably comprises an orientation sensing device, such as an accelerometer, for determining and orientation with respect to ground for properly displaying media.

When engaged, the minimizebutton505 prompts a controller (not shown) to hide the entire application. However, the application remains in full screen mode, although hidden.FIG. 5B shows thesmartphone500 wherein the application media, in this example a web page, has been minimized. In some embodiments, the application is minimized into a bar530 along the bottom of thescreen520. Since the applications are layers, such as well known windows in some operating systems, other applications can be running in the background. For example, a text reading application is running only on the second screen525 under the webpage application ofFIG. 5A. The user can quickly minimize the webpage application in order to access the text application. On thefirst screen523,various icons540 representing other applications are displayed along with astatus bar543 and anaction bar545. In the example ofFIG. 5B, theoverlay control505 remains, but the representative arrow is reversed to indicate that the next action would maximize the webpage application.

FIG. 5C shows the webpage application as awindow550 as a result of toggling theexit button507. In some embodiments, theexit button507 causes whatever application is in full screen mode to exit full screen mode and become awindow550. Alternatively, the application is dismissed entirely. Thewindow550 is merely ordered among other applications. For example, thewindow550 ofFIG. 5C is on top of the text application525 and the desktop having theicons540. Thewindow550 can be grabbed and panned around by a user pressing a finger for a specified amount of time, to “grab” thewindow550 and panned around by moving the finger. Thewindow550 can be placed in full screen mode again by tapping theexit button507. Alternatively, double tapping anywhere along thewindow550 causes the application to re-enter full screen mode. Alternatively, double tapping merely maximizes thewindow550 such that thestatus bar543 andaction bar545 remain displayed.

In the above embodiments, the overlay controls are not limited to dismissing the action bar, maximizing or minimizing the application, or entering or exiting full screen mode. Among other commands, the overlay controls can be configured to pan around a canvas application, zoom in or out of an application, or any other command that is convenient or necessary. Furthermore, a dedicated opaque or semi-opaque button on a touchscreen, while preferred, is not necessary. Other methods of interaction with the touch sensitive screen can call an overlay command without the existence of a specific button area on the touch sensitive screen. For example, two taps by a user's finger on an application icon calls the application. Three taps on an application icon calls the application directly into full screen mode. Similarly, on a called application in tiled mode such as shown inFIG. 5C, two taps on the window of the application can automatically put the application into full screen mode. In a minimized mode such as shown inFIG. 5B, a single tap on the minimized application places the application into tiled mode, while two taps place it into full screen mode.

The present invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments incorporating details to facilitate the understanding of principles of construction and operation of the invention. The several embodiments described, and the elements therein, are interchangeable among the several embodiments. In the above examples, a certain number of taps on a screen or press and hold interactions are discussed to trigger particular reactions or give particular commands. However, any combination of interactions can be programmed to elicit a desired response or give a command. Such reference herein to specific embodiments and details thereof is not intended to limit the scope of the claims appended hereto. It will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art that other various modifications are able to be made to the embodiments chosen for illustration without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A portable handheld device comprising:

1. a first touch sensitive screen;

2. a second touch sensitive screen;

3. an action bar and a status bar disposed on at least a portion of one of the first touch sensitive screen and the second touch sensitive screen, wherein the status bar includes indicators of operation of the portable handheld device and status of any application running on the portable handheld device;

4. a hinge for rotatable coupling the first touch sensitive screen and second touch sensitive screen and setting the device in at least one of an open and a closed position, wherein in the open position, the first touch sensitive screen and second touch sensitive screen form a single contiguous display; and

5. a processing means for displaying media across at least one of the first touch sensitive screen, the second touch sensitive screen, and the single contiguous display, wherein the processor means is configured to:

i. dismiss the action bar to thereby display the media across an entirety of at least one of the first touch sensitive screen, the second touch sensitive screen, and the single contiguous display; and

ii. display an overlay control on at least one of the first touch sensitive screen, the second touch sensitive screen, and the single contiguous display, wherein actuation of the overlay control prompts the processing means to dismiss a full screen mode and re-introduce the status bar and the action bar while the media is still displayed across the entirety of the first touch sensitive screen and the entirety of the second touch sensitive screen as the single contiguous display.

2. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the processing means is configured to dismiss the action bar upon a prompt by a user, thereby causing the media to be displayed across the entirety of the contiguous display.

3. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the processing means is configured to dismiss the action bar upon a prompt by the media, thereby causing the media to be displayed across the entirety of the contiguous display.

4. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the processing means is configured to dismiss the action bar upon placing the device in the open position, thereby causing the media to be displayed across the entirety of the contiguous display.

5. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the processor is configured to present at least one overlay command function button upon displaying the media across the entirety of at least one of the first touch sensitive screen, the second touch sensitive screen, and the single contiguous display.

6. The device ofclaim 5, wherein the overlay command function comprises re-presenting the action bar.

7. The device ofclaim 5, wherein the overlay command function comprises a zoom function.

8. The device ofclaim 5, wherein the overlay command function comprises panning across the media.

9. The device ofclaim 5, wherein the overlay command function comprises a scrolling function.

10. The device ofclaim 1, further comprising an orientation sensing means for orienting the media.

11. The device ofclaim 10, wherein the orientation sensing means comprises an accelerometer.

12. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the media comprises a website.

13. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the media comprises video.

14. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the media comprises text.

15. A method of presenting media on a portable device having two screens, the method comprising:

1. selectively displaying media, a status bar, and an action bar across at least one of first touch sensitive display, a second touch sensitive display, and a contiguous touch sensitive display formed by the first touch sensitive display and the second touch sensitive display, wherein the status bar includes indicators of operation of the portable device and status of any application running on the portable device;

2. dismissing the status bar and action bar upon a prompt, such that the media is displayed across an entirety of at least one of first touch sensitive display, a second touch sensitive display, and a contiguous touch sensitive display; and

3. display an overlay control on at least one of the first touch sensitive screen, the second touch sensitive screen, and the single contiguous display, wherein actuation of the overlay control prompts the processing means to dismiss a full screen mode and re-introduce the status bar and the action bar while the media is still displayed across the entirety of the first touch sensitive screen and the entirety of the second touch sensitive screen as the single contiguous display.

16. The method ofclaim 15, wherein the prompt comprises a user input.

17. The method ofclaim 15, wherein the prompt comprises opening the portable device.

18. The method ofclaim 15, wherein the prompt comprises placing the portable device in an open position.

19. The method ofclaim 15, wherein the prompt comprises rotating the portable device to one of a landscape and a portrait orientation.

20. The method ofclaim 15, wherein a different actuation of the overlay control presents the action bar and a scroll bar.

21. The method ofclaim 15, wherein a different actuation of the overlay control zooms the media.

22. The method ofclaim 15, wherein a different actuation of the overlay control pans the media.

23. The method ofclaim 15, wherein the action bar includes buttons for performing common tasks on the portable device, wherein the buttons include a phone button.

24. The method ofclaim 23, wherein the buttons included in the action bar are chosen based on frequency of use.

25. A portable smartphone comprising:

1. a contiguous touch sensitive screen formed by the intersection of a first touch sensitive screen and a second touch sensitive screen; and

2. a processor for displaying a status bar in a first area of one of the contiguous touch sensitive screen, first touch sensitive screen, or second touch sensitive screen and for displaying media in a second area of one of the contiguous touch sensitive screen, first touch sensitive screen, or second touch sensitive screen, wherein the first area and the second area are not overlapping areas, wherein the processor is configured to:

i. dismiss the status bar in the first area and to expand the media such that the media is displayed in the first area and the second area upon receiving a prompt, wherein the status bar includes indicators of operation of the portable smartphone and status of any application running on the portable smartphone; and

26. The portable smartphone ofclaim 25, wherein the prompt comprises at least one of a user input, rotation of the portable smartphone, calling of an application and changing the orientation of the portable smartphone.

27. The portable smartphone ofclaim 25, wherein the overlay control is also configured for panning the media, zooming the media, or dismissing the media.